TV Confidential with Ed Robertson
TV Confidential with Ed Robertson
ed robertson
TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television brings you lively conversations every week with the stars, writers, directors and other creative people behind the scenes of some of America's most popular shows. An engaging blend of talk and entertainment, TV Confidential often compares today's programs with those of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s.
Charlotte Stewart of Little House on the Prairie
Please enjoy this special preview of our upcoming conversation with Charlotte Stewart, the actress known around the world as Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie and as Betty Briggs on Twin Peaks. Charlotte will join Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler, and many other members of the Little House cast at the huge Little House on the Prairie 50th anniversary cast reunion that will take place Sept. 11-12-13 at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The weekend will include a special Friday night cast appearance plus, if you sign up for a VIP package, you'll have access to a special backstage tour of Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry (where Hee Haw and other TV series were filmed), plus other exclusive perks. For tickets and more information, go to LittleHouseonthePrairieCastReunions.com. Topics this segment include how Charlotte's memoir, Little House in the Hollywood Hills, was the first book written by an adult cast member of Little House; why she retired from acting a few years ago; and how much she enjoys her "third act" as being Charlotte. Our complete conversation with Charlotte Stewart will air during the weekend of Aug. 28 on TV Confidential. 
Aug 19
7 min
Michael Tove, writer and producer of Yale Saleing
TVC 745.1: Ed welcomes Michael Tove, writer and producer of Yale Saleing, a thirty-minute short with elements of Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone about a young couple that find themselves embroiled in a twenty-year-old mystery after purchasing a strange box at a yard sale. Directed by Tom Logan, and starring Eric Roberts, Yale Saleing was making the film festival circuit at the time this interview was recorded; you can watch the film online at EmeraldOakProductions.com. Topics this segment include filming Yale Saleing on location in San Diego, California; the inclusive environment behind the scenes on the set; and the surreal experience Michael had hearing actors performing the words he had written.
Aug 13
22 min
Michael Tove, The Handmaid's Tale, and Yale Saleing
TVC 745.2: Actor, writer, and producer Michael Tove shares a few stories about his early experiences working as an extra on The Handmaid's Tale (1990), including his encounters with Aidan Quinn, Natasha Richardson, Elizabeth McGovern, Amy Aquino, and Gregory Peck. Yale Saleing, the new short film written and produced by Michael Tove, can be viewed online at EmeraldOakProductions.com.
Aug 13
18 min
Ted Turner's imprint on television
TVC 743.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of Ted Turner, the legendary businessman, producer, media mogul, sports team owner, and philanthropist who founded CNN, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, superstation WTBS, and many other platforms. Ted Turner passed away on May 6, 2026 at age eighty-seven.
Aug 12
13 min
Martha Reeves on her new album, Searching, and why purple is her favorite color
TVC 745.4: Ed welcomes Martha Reeves, the legendary Motown powerhouse who is also one of the most influential voices in American music. Searching, Martha's first new album in twenty-two years, is a blend of jazz, gospel, blues, R & B, and lived experience that was recorded in New Orleans, alongside acclaimed trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, and co-produced by Marsalis and Martha's longtime manager, Chris Roe. Chris also appears with Martha during our call. Searching becomes available wherever you find music beginning Friday, Aug. 14. Topics this segment include how the making of Searching was very much a collaborative experience; how Martha's mother taught her never to sing a song unless she understood it and could feel it; meeting Stevie Wonder for the first time when he was eight years old, in Berry Gordy's office at Motown; why the release of Searching is an answered prayer; and why purple is Martha's go-to color.
Aug 11
20 min
James Burrows: "He Knew How to Do Funny"
TVC 744.1: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of Emmy Award-winning director and producer James Burrows (Cheers, Frasier, Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Will and Grace) in the first in a series of segments that commemorate notable TV actors and behind-the-scenes personnel who passed away earlier in 2026. James Burrows died Friday, June 19 at age eighty-five. Topics this segment include how Burrows approached directing TV sitcoms as if they were thirty-minute stage plays; his early career directing shows for MTM Studios; and his track record for directing pilots that eventually went to series. 
Aug 5
22 min
Why the legacy of James Burrows is laughter
TVC 744.2: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss James Burrows' impact on Taxi and Cheers (including the famous "What does a yellow light mean?" scene in the Taxi episode in which Reverend Jim takes his driving test), and why laughter is his legacy as a producer and director. James Burrows died Friday, June 19 at age eighty-five.
Aug 5
13 min
Why Gene Shalit was a "30 Rock utility player"
TVC 744.2a: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the TV work of noted film critics Gene Shalit and Rex Reed. Shalit passed away on June 12, 2026, a few weeks after turning 100, while Reed died on May 12, 2026 at age eighty-seven. Photo of Gene Shalit courtesy IMDb.com
Aug 5
6 min
Remembering Ronnie Schell
TVC 744.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of actor, comedian, and voice artist Ronnie Schell (Gomer Pyle, USMC, Good Morning, World, That Girl, The Cat from Outer Space, Gus), including his many appearances on the popular morning show hosted by L.A. radio personality Rick Dees. Ronnie Schell passed away on June 12, 2026 at age ninety-four. Photo courtesy B. Harlan Boll Public Relations
Aug 4
12 min
Christopher Martini, director of Everybody's Angel
TVC 744.4: Ed welcomes Christopher Martini, stepson of actor Stuart Margolin (the Emmy Award-winning actor known around the world as Angel Martin on The Rockford Files) and an award-winning filmmaker in his own right. Chris is the director of Everybody's Angel, a forthcoming feature length documentary that will celebrate Stuart's remarkable life and career. There is a crowdsourcing campaign going on right now at Indiegogo to help cover some of the various costs related to production of the documentary. If you're a fan of Stuart Margolin and would like to help contribute to the Indiegogo campaign, go to TinyURL.com/EverybodysAngel for more information. Every contribution helps preserve Stuart's incredible legacy for future generations. Topics this segment include growing up with Stuart; how Chris' passion for filmmaking stems from his experience being directed by Stuart in the movie The Glitter Dome; how Stuart's experience as a writer helped him as an actor, and how his experience as an actor helped him as a director. 
Aug 3
22 min
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